The Foreign Service Journal, September 2005

to enhance security to protect our personnel and their families outside U.S. embassies abroad. For such efforts to succeed, however, it is vital for all employees of the State Department and the other foreign affairs agencies to adhere rigorously to the security proce- dures implemented by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Regional Security Officers at overseas posts. While we understand that personnel can sometimes feel hampered by the security procedures, especially those imposed at high-threat posts, it is essential that the proce- dures be followed diligently. These measures are based on careful analysis of the latest threat information and are designed to save lives. As stated in a recent Accountability Review Board recommendation following the death of an American diplomat in Baghdad last year, it is imperative that everyone follows security regulations and ensures that colleagues follow them as well. It is also vital that our personnel, especially those serv- ing in high-threat areas, are well trained. Toward that end, a specialized DS course, mandatory for anyone headed to Iraq who will work under the authority of the U.S. ambas- sador, teaches students to detect hostile surveillance, pro- vide emergency medical care and identify bombs. The instruction also familiarizes students with basic firearms techniques and provides training in chemical and biologi- cal weapons countermeasures. DS offers a similar course for those deploying to other critical-threat locations. A Global Force At home and abroad, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security administers many other wide-ranging, sophisti- cated security and law enforcement programs and opera- tions. To counter threats from hostile intelligence organiza- tions, our engineers conduct sophisticated technical inspections to determine if anyone is spying on us with high-tech espionage equipment, and scour our buildings for hidden surveillance devices. F O C U S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 35